Amos 5:18-20

The Lord Demands Justice

5:18 Woe ¹  to those who wish for the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the Lord’s day of judgment to come?

It will bring darkness, not light.

5:19 Disaster will be inescapable, ² 

as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear,

then escaped ³  into a house,

leaned his hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a poisonous snake.

5:20 Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring ⁴  darkness, not light –

gloomy blackness, not bright light?

[5:18]  ¹ tn The term הוֹי (hoy, “woe”) was used when mourning the dead (see the note on the word “dead” in 5:16). The prophet here either engages in role playing and mourns the death of the nation in advance or sarcastically taunts those who hold to this misplaced belief.

[5:19]  ² tn The words “Disaster will be inescapable” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:19]  ³ tn Heb “went” (so KJV, NRSV).

[5:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “Will not the day of the Lord be.”